Seal.



PATENTBD JAN. a. 1907.

C. E. WHITMORE.

SEAL.

APPLIOATION rum) MAR.2,1906.

' ege/7l attoznugd/ crimping the rim. Fig. 5 is a view similar to CLARENCE E. WHITMORE, OF BAR HARBOR, MAINE.

SEAL.

No. 840,539. i Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

Application ned March 2.1900. semi No. 303,390.

To '/LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E'. WHIT- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bar Harbor, in the county of Hancock and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals, of which the following is a speciiication.

In devices of the kind designed most particularly for impressing a letter, design, or the like upon material such as wax it is customary to cut or stamp the letter, design, or the like in the head forming the guide. It is not always convenient or desirable to incur the delay incident to sending the device or stamp` to the engravers, and as a consequence sales are frequently not effected. This is overcome in art by roviding seals or stamps having ljetters ofP the alphabet or other design or the like engraved or stamped in the face thereof; but this is objectionable, as it requires the carrying in stock of quite a number of seals or stamps. Y

In accordance with this invention a head of the seal or stamp is countersunk and plates are provided to snugly fit within the countersink or recess and are adapted to bev secured in place by crimping an edge of the surrounding rim, said plates being provided with the letter, design, or the like to meet the demands of the trade.

The invention therefore contemplates a countersink or recessed seal-head and a series of plates provided with initial letters or other matter stamped or engraved therein, said plates being of a size to snugly iit within the countersink or recess and retained in the head by crimping the edge of the rim surrounding the recess, all as will appear more fully hereinafter, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, `in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seal embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seal-head, the initial-plate being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a series of initial-plates adapted to be fitted in the countersink or recess of the seal-head. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the seal with the initial-plate in position and secured by Fig. 4, showing the manner of crimping the rim.

Corresponding and like parts are referred in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The seal comprises the head 1, initialplate 2, and handle 3 and in general appear- .ance is not unlike the accustomed stamp provided for sealing letters and packages. The head 1 is provided in its face with a countersink or recess 4, the surrounding'rim 5 being comparatively thin to admit of its crimpin so as to embrace the edges of the initial- Iate and retain the same in place. The initial-plate 2 is com aratively` thin and of a size to snugly fit witiiin the countersink or recess 4 and is provided upon its face With a letter or other matter, either stamped or engraved therein. The number of initialplates are provided, and since they-are of uniform size any one is adapted to snugly iit Within the countersink or recess 4. The plate 2 may be struckup from sheet material, such as metal, and the letter or like design may be stamped in the face thereof. Hence the initial-plates may be provided in great quantity at a nominal cost, and When a sale is effected the merchant may select the desired plate and place it in the countersink or recess of the seal-head and crimp the rim 5 thereof, so as to retain the late in position.

The initial-plate is provi ed near its outer edge with a groove 6, which is arranged to form an exceedingly thin edge or rim at the outer side of the groove-and which is slightly inwardly bent orv crimped at the time of crimping the rim 5, thereby providing an eX- tremely close lioint between the seal-head and initial'- plate, so as to prevent any possible displacement of the latter. The groove 6 is also advantageous in the provision of a circular border surrounding the initial when the letter is impressed in the sealing-wax or other material employed for sealing a letter, package, or the like. The crimping of the rim 5 may be accomplished in any manner, and in order that the operation may be uniform a crimping-tool 7 is employed, the same having a rim the inner edge of which is beveled, so that upon tapping the tool after being fitted to the seal or head the inner beveled edge of the rim riding upon the rim 5 of the sealhead will crimp or bend the latter inward, as will be readily understood. An anvil 8 is to in the following description and indicated crimping operation.

provided to support the seal-head during thev IOO terior tosaid groove, said plate being rei 'in said eountersink and having a groove near i The devices 7 and 8 may be of ordinary or special construction, es found most advantageous.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl A seal, die or stamp comprising a head prol vided with a countersink or recess, and an i initial-plate adapted to be fitted snugly withv tained in place by crimping the rim'of the head surrounding the eountersink and at the same time erimpinfT the rim surrounding the groove of the inltia-plate.

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. WHYIMORE.

Witnesses:

CLARICE P. GETCHELL, EUGENE S. THURsToN.

in s] its outer edge to form a thin edge or rim eX- 

